Each Day Is New- The Lady In Red

My aunt Marcella passed away a couple of days ago.  We visited the funeral home today and paid our honor to she and her family.  As I neared the coffin I could see her wishes had been carried out.  My 88-year-old aunt always loved the color red and wore it all the time.  Today was no exception.  Marcella had beautiful red flowers on her casket and she was dressed in a red suit and red loop earrings.

I spent many summers visiting with Marcella’s family.  Her daughter, Joyce and I would spend the day playing in the town of St. Albans.  Aunt Marcella was a professional seamstress and she could make anything.  Joyce always had the most beautiful doll cloths and I sort of felt a little jealous.  Her mom would have left over material and it would turn into a doll dress, doll coats and hats.

Marcella was my mother’s oldest sister and they were very close.  Marcella and Joyce would come and stay a week with us when we lived in a coal camp in Mammoth, WV. One day Joyce and I decided to play beauty shop.  I was about six and Joyce was five….when we became beauticians.  I was bossy even then.  I talked Joyce into letting me cut her hair and assured her I would be careful.  I decided she needed it cut SHORT.  Clip, clip, snip all on one side of her head and then….OUR MOTHER’S CAME OUT ON THE PORCH where I was cutting.  I thought they were going to faint and we were two scared little girls.

Through the years Marcella’s signature color was always red.  I wonder if the Red Hat Society got their idea from her?

I will always cherish my childhood memories at Aunt Marcella’s house.  She had a parakeet that laid eggs, a bathtub on claw feet, a wardrobe with lots of hats, a really fast sewing machine, crisp bacon and lots of patience to tolerate two giggling little girls.  We would always attend Grace Baptist Temple on Sunday and come home to a Sunday Dinner.

The Lady in Red had lived her many years and brought joy to others.  God called her home and I believe she may even get a red robe in heaven.

Each Day Is New- All Things Connected

Out of the abundance of the heart my mouth speaks.  I feel a deep need to express myself in words that will relieve the grinding within me and loose the threads that binds so tight.  All things within me seem to be connected.

All the things we see, hear, feel and even smell translate into a physical emotion that brings sorrow or joy to us.  The smell of a new born babies neck and the touch of his tiny toes always brings a deep breath and a big smile to my face.  This sight and touch puts my memory in reverse and immediately I think of cuddling my own children and the joy they brought.

A beautiful morning can be crushed before it has time to continue by erratic words that enter your ears.  The sounds seem to quickly go past the ear and into your gut and them explode out to your nervous system.  How it is possible?  How can three and four letter words effect our emotions?

When our heart is breaking there is a longing to just cry.  How is my heart connected to my eyes?  My tears seem to be a great release and maybe it is the place where all the tension can be released back into the air.  I remember a verse of a song…”He washed my eyes with tears that I might see.”  Don’t let anyone convince you that only wimps cry.  All great people find a time and place to cry…so they can go on with life.  All things are connected.

A beautiful rose may wonder …”what is my purpose?”  Then someone walks through the garden and bends down and strokes the roses’ petal.  Then the person comes closer and smells the fragrance of the rose and says “oh, this smells so good.”  This one little roses’ smell may have brought peace to someone very sad or a recalled a memory of roses in the past.  All things are connected.

Within me is the power to pray very privately to God and express all my thanks for His bountiful blessings or I can empty my ugly thoughts and deepest needs.  All things within me are connected to Him.  I don’t have to be afraid to tell Him my needs (actually He already knows my thoughts).  Asking forgiveness and expressing praise opens up new opportunities to see out of different eyes and realize He is in control.  All things are connected.

Lord, the things that have passed through our sight this morning can touch us and make a sad day better.  You have provided beauty through the smell and color of a garden of flowers.  Help us take time to stop to smell the flowers along our path.  Bless those that share their words and encouragement.  In His Name-AMEN

Each Day Is New-Some Days Are Plain Yucky

I am usually a pretty happy-go-lucky person and enjoy my daily blessings.  However, I have just figured out that God is still working on me and some days are plain yucky.  Don’t give me any of that…”you should be thankful and count your blessings”.  I do count my blessings, but the last few days could have been better.

The simple things in life are usually what lights up my life.  Things like white drifting clouds, a fresh cut flower, a sleeping baby or an unexpected note from a friend.  This is the things money can’t buy and they usually make me happy.

Did you ever feel an invisible force  that seems to be draining you of the joy in your life?  This pull makes me become unmotivated to take care of responsibilities at times.  I have procrastinated in making a doctor’s appointment, in getting my mammogram, scheduling a dental appointment, and making vacation reservations. 

I don’t like to feel unmotivated and unattached.  This is just not me.  I am the only one that can work on this situation and I plan to work on it.

1.  I am taking time to stop and thank God for my family.  We are not perfect, but it is our family. (This sound like a Jon and Kate quote)

2.  I need to look around me at all the people who lost their jobs and be thankful for my job.  I need to find a way to help those less fortunate.

3.  I want to look at myself as a work in progress.  Our emotions can be up and they can be down, but God still loves us.  Tomorrow is a new day.

4.  I would like to do something special for someone and not let them know I did it. 

5.  I will be patient with myself during the days that are yucky. 

6.  Semi-retirement is a new direction.  I will find joy and happiness in yet undiscovered ways. 

You know, I already feel better by just stating my feelings.  I am listening to the rain and smelling the sweetness of the wind in my face.  God is good.

Each Day Is New-Something Is Missing!!!

Yesterday I was handed the company bank deposit as I was leaving the office.  Our bank is on my way home and I was glad to run this errand.  I picked up my coat, ABC Catalog, purse and the deposit.  For some reason, I passed up the bank and just decided to make the deposit the next morning.

THIS MORNING:  I am preparing to put on may make-up, go to Target and drop of the deposit.  I can not find the deposit anywhere.  Before I sound the alarm, I search the front seat of the car, I go through the trash, I dump out my purse and look in my home office.  I never put the business deposit in any of these places,…..but I am going to check. 

Panic is setting in at this point.  I call my husband (who is 30 miles away) and ask if he has seen the deposit.  I call my business partner and dread telling her I can’t find our deposit.  One person has already searched my office, but she and Lisa will search again.  They can’t find it anywhere.

I know I had taken responsibility for something that was precious and valuable and I have lost it. I can’t blame anyone else.  I have to take responsibility for this problem.  I am praying and the people at the office are praying that we can find what is lost.  No one is giving up!  We want what we had in our hands.  We want to have the joy of finding what is precious.

Lisa makes another search, but goes outside the office.  This time she looks at the place where I parked yesterday.  There hiding in the tall grass (like the prize Easter egg) was our bank deposit. I had dropped the deposit as I was getting in the car.  It was wet from the rain, but had not lost the worth.

I thought about our spiritual lives and how many times we lose our direction or lose the joy we once had in our lives.  There are wonderful people that will help us find what is missing.  What did I once have that was valuable and brought complete joy in my life?  I need to seek the precious gifts that God has given me and let them bring joy to my life and to the life of others.

My business partner reminded me of God when the lost deposit was found.  She didn’t start criticizing me or blaming.  She said it was okay and what was lost is found.  That is exactly what God does when we renew our fellowship with Him and find our way on new paths.

Each Day Is New-There Are Lot’s of Different Birds

We live in the greatest country in the world….a land of freedom.  Or, is it?  How many times do we hear the words “we have never done it this way before?”  American is facing a future of changes, new ideas (some I don’t like), but change is coming.  If our ideas and our political parties ideas have not worked….are we open to something that will work?

I want to share “A Peacock in the Land of Penguins” with you.  http://www.perrythepeacock.com/  Please take a few short minutes to click on this link and listen.  We need to be open to becoming ourselves and letting others use there thoughts and ideas too.

Together we can make a difference.  Are you a penguin or a peacock?  Why or why not?

Each Day Is New-It’s My Blog and I Will Whine If I Want To!

I know I am always searching for the truth and the right way to get there.  Our life journey can take us down many different roads and the detours seem to take us miles past our goals.  That is life!

I have sincerely been asking God to grant me wisdom to deal with life situations that we face from day to day.  Today has been very trying.  We can see things that we have worked on for a lifetime crumble with a word spoken by others.   I don’t like days like this and I have to wonder how it is playing into the wonderful plan in my life.  I feel like whining and blogging is the next best place to vent.

This afternoon I began thinking of the scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. 

To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under the sun.

A time to be born and a time to die;

a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

a time to kill and a time to heal…

a time to weep and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn and a time to dance…

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to lose and a time to seek;

a time to rend and a time to sew;

a time to keep silent and a time to speak;

a time to love and a time to hate;

a time for war and a time for peace.

So, today I don’t have to have all the answers, I don’t have to be strong and I can cry if I want.  Even God, in all His Glory thinks it is okay to take time to vent yourself, cry if you need to cry and even be silent.  Take the time to heal your emotions and renew your spirit.  We will then have a time to laugh, a time plan and a time to exit. 

God please grant me the wisdom to use all the knowledge I possess.

 

Each Day Is New–I Need to Be Reminded

Everything that goes on in the world around us has an effect on our emotional ups and downs.  The sickness of a child, the unstable economy, financial concerns, losing a loved one and this is just the tip of the iceburg.  Yes, a good beginning to a day can change in a moment and without warning.

I have personally been going through the ups and downs in the last few week and I hated the inner feelings that were taking over my being.  Sometimes things just seem like they are out of “our” control.  I was feeling like I personally had to solve my situation and have the “fix” for everything that was wrong.  I needed to be reminded!

I spent much time in prayer and ask God to give me the wisdom to use my knowledge in my personal life and in my business.  I was a little surprised when I began waking up in the early morning and just thinking about life.  What is God trying to show me?  He let my mind flow back to scripture that reminded me…”I will never leave you or forsake you and will go with you all the way”.  I needed to be reminded!

Last week I sat down at my office desk and I could see a mental picture of a big circle and in the center were me and my two business partners and God was in the very center.  Outside the circle were all sorts of arrows trying to get through the circle.  I was reminded once again that things may be bad, but nothing can separate us from the love and protection of God.  He will be with us and He reminded once again.

Sometimes I feel so “whimpy” when I am not the encourager to others or I am just not feeling on top of the mountain. I think God knew we would “have day’s like this” and He told me:  “All that are heavy laden…cast your cares on me”.  I know He still loves me when I come to Him and whine, ask why and tell Him I need some help.  He reminds me with my own thoughts that He has always been there and He is with me now.

I remember the song, “He Is Still Working on Me” and I realize I am a work in progress and I will never be perfect or will I have all the answers.  I have been reminded by God through His Words.

Each Day Is New—2009

I want to take this opportunity to wish each of my blog readers a Happy New Year.  I know a few of you through the comments you leave on the site.  However, many stop to read and quitely leave without a comment.  My best wishes to all of you in 2009.

Please take time to leave a comment and I will return the favor by visiting your site.

Fourty-five Things and You May Care Less

 

1.  My maiden name was Woodrum.

2.  I don’t like to drive behind a man driving a truck and wearing a ball cap.

3.  I have never been drunk.

4.  I don’t smoke.

5.  I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 16 years old.

6.  I don’t like Science Fiction movies or books.

7.  I won a trip to the Bahamas by having the highest yellow page sales.

8.  I love having lunch with a group of my girlfriends and just laughing until we cry.

9.  I have been married 47 years to the same man.

10.  We were wise enough to have marriage counseling when needed.

11.  I have two children and four grandchildren.

12.  I won’t leave the house without my make-up and hair groomed.

13.  I start a lot of crafts and don’t finish the crafts I don’t like.

14.  My feet are very dry and require TLC.

15.  I have worked in the yellow page industry over 22 years.

16.  I love for friends and family to “just drop in”.

17.  People that can’t make a decision and take responsibility for the decision get on my nerves.

18.  I don’t like to hear people brag about all their stocks, money and wealth.

19.  It annoys me when someone ask me how much I paid for something.

20.  I have a gift of discernment and it has saved my neck many times.

21.  I am looking forward to passing the torch, cutting back on office work and opening a new chapter in my life.  (I think I am)

22.  I am a very independent person, but I can be totally crushed when someone speaks harshly to me or deceives me.

23.  I try to be a very forgiving person.

24.  I love my church family and I think the feeling is mutual.

25.  I wish I had nice smooth feet like Lisa (my business partner).

26.  I am a business partner in a yellow page agency. 

27.  At one time in my life, I lost over 100 pounds and need to do it again.

28.  I hate family conflict.

29.  I am very trusting until someone lies to me.  The new trust will come after they prove themselves again.

30.  I am a better idea person than a follower.

31.  I usually finish a project and think to myself that someone else could have done a better job.

32. I would like to think most people like me, but I know a few dislike me.  That makes me a little sad.

33.  I am not a person to visit the cemetary.  I have never been back since my parents died.  I feel they are not there, but in heaven.

34.  I love the feel and smell of fresh flowers.

35.  I love sitting by the stream at Roaring River in the Smoky Mts.

36.  I don’t like for anyone to scream at their kids. (especially my grandkids)

37.  My sister and her daughter are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.

38.  I am not afraid of dying, but I think about how long I have remaining and what I can do constructive before that time.

39. I always made sure my kids brushed their teeth two or three times a day.  One is now 44 and the other 41 and they do not have cavities.

40.  I am not a real early morning person.

41.  I am not good at losing weight.

42.  Purple is my favorite color.

43.  I have been a ministers’ wife for 35 years.  Early in the game an older ministers’ wife told me I could use the word “NO” when ask to head every committe and be the officer in every group.  

44.  I can’t play the piano, but I like to teach.

45.  I like to take adventuresome drives down roads less trodden. 

I just felt like writing some thought that won’t be any impact on history and won’t make much difference 100 years from now.  It is just me…right now.

Pumpkin Party

My grandkids came to the office this afternoon.  Their mom had to attend a Parent / Teacher Conference and all three were excited to be at the office.  We had about an hour to paint a face on a pumpkin, make him some ears and decorate him with dots. 

It is the small things like staplers, hole punches, permanent markers and inked stampers that became the hit of the afternoon.  These kids had a blast just playing with things.

When we stop to think about it, it is usually the small things that bring us the most joy.  What joy when a friends just drops in, a love note from hubby is found on the counter top, a neighbor brings over hot rolls and a totally unplanned lunch becomes a time of laughter.

It is the small stuff that brings memories for years to come.